KATHMANDU, Jan 1: The newly-completed 220/132 kV substation at Markichowk in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun, is now operational. The substation, which utilizes gas-insulated system (GIS) technology, was built as part of the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line project. It was officially charged and activated on Tuesday.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu 220 kV double circuit transmission line, running from the Markichowk substation to Kathmandu, was charged to 220 kV on the same day. This transmission line is crucial for delivering electricity from the hydropower projects located in the Marsyangdi River basin to the Kathmandu Valley.
Initially, the 82-kilometer transmission line had been charged to 132 kV on June 21, 2022. However, with the activation of the Markichowk substation, the transmission line is now fully operational at 220 kV, marking a significant milestone for the project.
The Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line project has been designed to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure by connecting the Marsyangdi River basin to the Kathmandu Valley. As part of this effort, the project also includes the construction of substations in Markichowk and Matatirtha. The Matatirtha substation, which went live in April last year, is equipped with two 160/160 MVA transformers, bringing the total combined capacity of both substations to 320/320 MVA.
Dana-Khurkot transmission line and substation ready
According to Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the NEA, the activation of the Markichowk substation establishes vital infrastructure for transmitting electricity from the Marsyangdi River hydropower projects to the Kathmandu Valley via the 220 kV transmission line. Ghising added that this development will improve the voltage of the integrated electricity system in Nepal, making electricity supply more reliable, sufficient, and of higher quality.
Furthermore, Ghising said that the completion of the Markichowk-Bharatpur section of the Marsyangdi Corridor Transmission Line Project, which is expected by the Nepali month of Jestha, will facilitate the transmission of electricity to Bharatpur. The work is currently in progress, with the section scheduled to be completed soon.
In addition to the Markichowk substation, the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line has been interconnected with the Trishuli-Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line at Baad Bhanjyang, located in Chandragiri Municipality. This interconnection allows for the integration of electricity from both the Marsyangdi and Trishuli River basins, with approximately 1,000 megawatts of electricity from both transmission lines being fed into the Matatirtha substation. The combined capacity of the transmission lines and Matatirtha substation is expected to handle around 2,000 megawatts of electricity.
The Marsyangdi-Kathmandu project faced some setbacks due to the poor performance of the original contractor for the Markichowk and Matatirtha substations. As a result, the contract was terminated, and a new agreement was signed with China Masonry Engineering Corporation in January 2021 to complete the remaining work. The estimated cost of the two substations stands at Rs 2.5 billion.
The Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line project was initiated with investments from the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Electricity Authority, along with a grant from the Government of Norway and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank. This partnership aims to improve the country’s electricity infrastructure, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable power supply to the Kathmandu Valley and beyond.
